SAAS UPDATE - March 13, 2009
Greetings!
SAAS members gathered in Washington, DC, in February for the semi-annual public policy member meeting. We had great attendance from around the country with 23 states represented. The focus of the four-day meeting was public policy. The first item on the agenda for members when they arrived was meetings with their elected federal officials on Capitol Hill. The Legal Action Center staff did a great job preparing everyone for their visits to The Hill, debriefing the meetings each member had with their Congressional representative, and facilitating the discussion about how we can strengthen our collective policy advocacy at the National level. We had the largest number of Hill visits to date. We were able to meet with more than 60 House and Senate offices, covering 20 states. Now is a critical time to have such successful Hill visits as we work closely with the new Administration and members of Congress. We have a great team on the Hill, but it is what each of our members and each of their members do locally to build relationships with the Federal lawmakers that will make the most significant impact. Electronic copies of the policy materials LAC developed for Hill visits have been sent to SAAS members and will be posted to the "members only" section of the new SAAS website (www.saasnet.org). We hope these documents are helpful to your advocacy back home. John Daigle will assist with our ongoing outreach efforts as we work to strengthen our key contacts to targeted leaders of Congress to make our work even more effective.
Many other important issues were discussed during the February member meeting as well. John Campbell from CSAT gave a great presentation on the Block Grant and Maintenance of Effort-an issue many states are struggling with in this economic downturn. We also spent time listening to members discuss what is happening in their states. This type of networking is a great benefit for our members as state associations look for new and innovative ideas to support their members. Attendees also got a preview of our latest project on Provider Networks. The report on provider networks will be released soon and presented at the annual Conference in Tucson. (Just one more reason to plan to attend!) Other materials developed for the member meeting will be disseminated soon.
Our new website, www.saasnet.org is almost complete. The members only section is scheduled to go live in the next week. I will email usernames and passwords to all SAAS members so you can access the important information posted there.
Mark your calendar now for the upcoming membership meetings:
- July 29, 2009 at the Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa Tucson, AZ 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. This meeting will take place the day before the start of our annual conference.
- November 3-6. 2009 in Washington, DC
Watch for registration details soon!
Three state associations (NH, NY and PA) are planning Hill visits to Washington this spring with a number of their members. The SAAS staff is happy to assist any state association with planning those meetings and the LAC staff are available to conduct policy briefings and prepare members for Hill visits. Any state association director interested in support from SAAS or LAC should contact me as soon as you begin your visit planning.
Thanks for all you do to support the field and the people you serve.
Becky Vaughn
Executive Director
State Associations of Addiction Services
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SAAS Spotlight
National Advocacy Campaign Membership News
SAAS and the Legal Action Center (LAC) are pleased to announce the newest members of the Founding 500: the Colorado Association of Alcohol & Drug Service Providers Inc., Bruce Hayden, CEO, Spectrum Programs, Inc., Nancy Hamilton at Operation PAR, and Judy Crane at The Refuge: A Healing Place, in Florida.
They will join our effort to dramatically improve policy for people with alcohol and drug histories so that millions more Americans are able to enjoy the benefits of recovery.
If you would like to join our advocacy efforts and become a member of the Campaign's Founding 500 by making a donation of $1,000 or more, or to make a donation of any amount, click here.
STERLING Announces New Pricing for SAAS Members
SAAS Express and STERLING Reference Laboratories are pleased to announce significant price reductions for DrugCheck Products, effective February 20, 2009. These "Member Only" prices have been negotiated for SAAS members and SAAS State Associations, and include a Revenue Share to your State Association at no additional cost for those with a "Revenue Share Agreement" with STERLING.
For more information, please feel free to call or email Megan Maddock [mmaddock@regtox.com], Senior Product Sales Executive at 800-442-0483.
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SAMHSA News
SAMHSA's Substance Abuse Treatment Grants for Adolescents and Their Families
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is soliciting applications for fiscal year 2009 Family Centered Substance Abuse Treatment Grants to provide services to adolescents, ages 12-17, transition age youth, ages 18-24 and their families. This program is intended to implement evidence-based practices, specifically the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach coupled with Assertive Continuing Care, both of which focus on the interaction between youth and their environments, and are family-centered and community-based.
SAMHSA expects that approximately $8.2 million in funding will be available to award up to 27 grants for up to 3 years. The average award amount may vary, but is expected to be up to $300,000 annually. Applications for No. TI-09-002 are available by calling SAMHSA's Information Line at 1-877-SAMHSA7 or by downloading the application from the SAMHSA website. Applicants are encouraged to apply online using www.grants.gov.
SAMHSA Accepting Applications for Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Grants
SAMHSA is soliciting applications for 2009 Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program-Priority to Veterans grants. These grants are designed to address the needs of individuals with post traumatic stress disorder and trauma-related disorders involved in the justice system.
This program will support states to pilot local implementation of a trauma-integrated jail diversion programs and to replicate them statewide. In recognition of the dramatically higher prevalence of trauma-related illnesses among veterans, this program will prioritize eligibility for veterans. Although the actual award amounts may vary, SAMHSA expects that approximately $11,830,000 in funding will be available to award up to 6 grants for up to 5 years.
Applications for No. SM-09-004 are available by calling SAMHSA's Information Line at 1-877-SAMHSA7 or by downloading the application from the SAMHSA website. Applicants are encouraged to apply online using www.grants.gov.
Advancing Health Through System Reform - Join the Conversation
Mental health and substance abuse services are an essential component for advancing our Nation's health. SAMHSA, states, local governments, providers, consumers and the recovery community are working together to bring the best possible prevention, health promotion, early intervention, treatment, and recovery services to people in need.
Your organization's ideas are welcome and will provide insight into how these services can be provided in local community environments through health system reform. Please use the SAMHSA template as a guide for providing and highlighting important information and perspectives that your organization would like to share. Please limit your submission to no more than 3 pages.
Send all submissions via email [healthreform@samhsa.hhs.gov] by March 27, 2009. The information your organization provides will be posted on the SAMHSA website and will be used to inform upcoming national discussions.
Inhalants Press Conference Will Highlight Use by Youth and Changes in Building Code Guideline
Inhalants are among the top three drugs used by youth who initiate drug use. Yet, few parents are aware of the dangers of "sniffing" or "huffing". On March 16, the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, with support from the SAMHSA will hold a press conference to focus on inhalant abuse. This event will feature Dana Prothro, a grieving mother who turned her grief over her daughter's death into joining a successful crusade to convince the International Code Council to prevent unauthorized access to air conditioner refrigerants in new construction. Also featured will be Allison Fogarty, a young woman in recovery and the focus of the inhalants program on A&E, who will discuss her past addiction to inhalants. The press conference will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the National Press Club on 14th and F Street, NW, Washington, DC.
A New TIP on Managing Depressive Symptoms
SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is pleased to announce the availability of Managing Depressive Symptoms in Substance Abuse Clients During Early Recovery, a new Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP).
Beginning with this TIP (#48), CSAT is introducing a new approach to improve the delivery of substance abuse treatment services. Short and concise, the new TIP focuses on how to perform relevant activities and target specific needs of substance abuse treatment counselors, program administrators, and clinical supervisors. This allows for the materials in the TIP to be reviewed, discussed, and used as a training tool over a short period of time and with few or no additional resources. TIP 48 provides the answers that substance abuse treatment counselors need when working with clients with depressive symptoms and substance use disorders.
Organized in three parts, TIP 48 provides vignettes of counseling sessions, descriptions of specific techniques, and an online literature review. It also provides administrators with information about incorporating the management of depressive symptoms into their substance abuse treatment programs, complete with a systematic approach to designing and implementing a supportive infrastructure.
The TIP is available for download through this link.
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Professional Development Opportunities
Recovery Coach Academy 2009 Registration Now Open
The Recovery Coach Academy (RCA) is a five-day training opportunity designed for anyone interested in serving as a Recovery Coach. The Academy offers a comprehensive overview of the purpose and roles of Recovery Coaching while providing participants the tools and resources necessary in providing recovery support services.
Participants will learn the roles associated with recovery coaching: resource broker, role model and mentor, motivator and cheerleader, ally and confidant, problem solver, truth teller, advocate, community organizer, lifestyle consultant, friend, companion and equal. While recovery coaches are not providers of clinical services, they often work with people experiencing difficult emotional and physical issues. As a result, the training provides participants with a basic understanding of substance use and mental disorders, crisis intervention and how to respond in crisis situations. In addition, skills and tools on effective communication, motivational enhancement strategies, recovery action planning, cultural competency and recovery ethics will be offered.
The deadline for registration is March 23, 2009 for the first 35 participants. For more information about RCA and the concurrent Training-of-Trainers sessions offered, please visit the Recovery Coach Academy website.
Register Now For Upcoming CASA CONFERENCES
Approximately one in five returning Iraqi War soldiers suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, severe depression or anxiety, often accompanied by alcohol or other drug abuse and addiction. Without appropriate care, these men and women cannot function in our society, hold down jobs or raise families. This important and timely conference, Wounds of War: Substance Abuse, Veterans and Active Duty Military, will offer solutions to make sure our brave men and women receive all the support they need to re-establish their lives when they return home.
Conference keynote speaker, Nora Volkhow, MD, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and Panel Moderators Robert Bazell, Chief Science and Health Correspondent, NBC News and Elizabeth Cohen, Senior Medical Correspondent, Health and Medical Unit, CNN, will join other panelists to discuss topics such as the impact of substance abuse on military families and substance abuse and mental illness among active duty military and veterans.
For complete information about the conference and registration, please visit the CASACONFERENCEsm website.
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News From Around the Field
HRSA Administrator Nominated
Health Resources and Services Administration is pleased to announce that President Obama has appointed Dr. Mary Wakefield, one of the nation's top rural health care professionals, as Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration. Dr. Wakefield's experience as a nurse, a Ph.D. and a leading rural healthcare advocate make her uniquely qualified to lead HRSA, as President Obama endeavors to expand access to the uninsured and underserved in our current health system.
"It's an honor to join President Obama's health care team and be part of his effort to get health care and critical care personnel to communities and areas of the country that need it most," said Dr. Wakefield. "The Recovery Act presents us with a tremendous opportunity to get help to Americans without coverage or health care very quickly through the top quality programs that HRSA runs...We will work tirelessly to ensure that their expectations are met, resources start flowing quickly into underserved communities, and the health system in our country works for all Americans."
New IADDA Website
The Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association is pleased to announce the launch of its redesigned website.
Check it out at www.iadda.org.
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About SAAS
The State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS) is the leading national organization advocating on behalf of state associations of prevention, treatment, and recovery providers and the individuals and families they serve. For more information about SAAS programs and initiatives contact bvaughn@saasnet.org [bvaughn@saasnet.org].
